"The Laser-Induced Plasma Channel (LIPC) uses a very short laser burst with a modest amount of energy - but because it's so brief, the power mustered is tremendous. The output of the "optical amplifier" is 50 billion watts"

Ok they need to hand some portable versions off to some spec-ops guys and have it on you-tube in a few weeks. Impractical and way too costly, but the PR gains would be insane. Oh you guys are still using Ak's? That's nice, good for you.

Ok they need to hand some portable versions off to some spec-ops guys and have it on you-tube in a few weeks. Impractical and way too costly, but the PR gains would be insane. Oh you guys are still using Ak's? That's nice, good for you.[www.azoft.com image 350x350]

Ok they need to hand some portable versions off to some spec-ops guys and have it on you-tube in a few weeks. Impractical and way too costly, but the PR gains would be insane. Oh you guys are still using Ak's? That's nice, good for you.[www.azoft.com image 350x350]

Ok they need to hand some portable versions off to some spec-ops guys and have it on you-tube in a few weeks. Impractical and way too costly, but the PR gains would be insane. Oh you guys are still using Ak's? That's nice, good for you.[www.azoft.com image 350x350]

Not only is this (most likely) a repeat -- I won't click Gawker links -- but I think that pic has been posted in every one.

The second thing I thought of was orbital, geostationary satellites that could detect the probability of lightning storms and direct high voltage plasma down to receptors for power consumption by the masses. It would be a thing of interesting technological beauty to see a future where the night is lit up by directed energy blasts for city power.

The robots of the Matrix obviously didn't think things through by keeping humans as low voltage batteries. Just sayin'.

NerdCoreRageQuit:The second thing I thought of was orbital, geostationary satellites that could detect the probability of lightning storms and direct high voltage plasma down to receptors for power consumption by the masses. It would be a thing of interesting technological beauty to see a future where the night is lit up by directed energy blasts for city power.

Nem Wan:"The Laser-Induced Plasma Channel (LIPC) uses a very short laser burst with a modest amount of energy - but because it's so brief, the power mustered is tremendous. The output of the "optical amplifier" is 50 billion watts"

That wouldn't stop the lightning from hitting you. the laser is used to generate a column of plasma (the air along the lasers path is heated to a plasma if the laser is strong enough) then the lightning bolt will naturally follow that column of plasma. But I doubt the lightning would turn around one it hit the mirror.

NerdCoreRageQuit:The robots of the Matrix obviously didn't think things through by keeping humans as low voltage batteries. Just sayin'.

As I recall, the original plan was to using the humans as meat-processors, because we were better at thinking in certain ways than they were. (This would also make how being aware of The Matrix could let one manipulate it, if part of the brain's power was being used to *maintain* the matrix).

Felgraf:NerdCoreRageQuit: The robots of the Matrix obviously didn't think things through by keeping humans as low voltage batteries. Just sayin'.

As I recall, the original plan was to using the humans as meat-processors, because we were better at thinking in certain ways than they were. (This would also make how being aware of The Matrix could let one manipulate it, if part of the brain's power was being used to *maintain* the matrix).

... this was nixed by meddling executives as being 'too complicated'.

It may also be worth mentioning that humans were only one source of power for the robots.

Sure, if the enemy was using low powered lasers, but the energy dump on a weapons grade lasers is going to quickly degrade the reflective capability of mirrors. Simply put the dam laser is going to cut through your mirror like a hot knife through better.

Now with this device instead of reflection you would be better off with something that ground the electricity.

Felgraf:NerdCoreRageQuit: The robots of the Matrix obviously didn't think things through by keeping humans as low voltage batteries. Just sayin'.

As I recall, the original plan was to using the humans as meat-processors, because we were better at thinking in certain ways than they were. (This would also make how being aware of The Matrix could let one manipulate it, if part of the brain's power was being used to *maintain* the matrix).

... this was nixed by meddling executives as being 'too complicated'.

Actually it was outsourced to some redundant process on a third rate node who said they could do it cheaper, but then took three times as long and required twelve times the oversight to even approach a usable product. Causing massive cost overruns and the whole thing was shut down in favor of the human battery project.

Honest Bender:Felgraf: NerdCoreRageQuit: The robots of the Matrix obviously didn't think things through by keeping humans as low voltage batteries. Just sayin'.

As I recall, the original plan was to using the humans as meat-processors, because we were better at thinking in certain ways than they were. (This would also make how being aware of The Matrix could let one manipulate it, if part of the brain's power was being used to *maintain* the matrix).

... this was nixed by meddling executives as being 'too complicated'.

It may also be worth mentioning that humans were only one source of power for the robots.

Yes. "Combined with a form of fusion." What, nuclear power alone wasn't sufficient? I suppose they never explained it so there could be a few reasons why fusion wouldn't absolutely dwarf the output of even 6 billion plugged-in humans, but it still stretches suspension of disbelief.

In one sense you could argue that animals being several billion years in the evolution, are a means of generating heat (and thus, energy) from carbohydrates. But, that requires that a) food can still be grown after rendering solar power useless, b) that there aren't more effective (read: less energy-efficient) animals than humans which could fulfill the same role without the risk of insurrection. Or maybe the Matrix is a success not because humans were the first, best choice, but because the machines understand human intelligence to a sufficient degree that they could produce a proper simulation that the humans wouldn't reject, whereas an animal intelligence would reject (and require greater maintenance/turnover) more frequently because the machine intelligence understands it no better than we do.

Niveras:Honest Bender: Felgraf: NerdCoreRageQuit: The robots of the Matrix obviously didn't think things through by keeping humans as low voltage batteries. Just sayin'.

As I recall, the original plan was to using the humans as meat-processors, because we were better at thinking in certain ways than they were. (This would also make how being aware of The Matrix could let one manipulate it, if part of the brain's power was being used to *maintain* the matrix).

... this was nixed by meddling executives as being 'too complicated'.

It may also be worth mentioning that humans were only one source of power for the robots.

Yes. "Combined with a form of fusion." What, nuclear power alone wasn't sufficient? I suppose they never explained it so there could be a few reasons why fusion wouldn't absolutely dwarf the output of even 6 billion plugged-in humans, but it still stretches suspension of disbelief.

In one sense you could argue that animals being several billion years in the evolution, are a means of generating heat (and thus, energy) from carbohydrates. But, that requires that a) food can still be grown after rendering solar power useless, b) that there aren't more effective (read: less energy-efficient) animals than humans which could fulfill the same role without the risk of insurrection. Or maybe the Matrix is a success not because humans were the first, best choice, but because the machines understand human intelligence to a sufficient degree that they could produce a proper simulation that the humans wouldn't reject, whereas an animal intelligence would reject (and require greater maintenance/turnover) more frequently because the machine intelligence understands it no better than we do.

But yeah, nerds.

I skip all that and just scoff at the need for robots to compete with human beings for space or energy in a galaxy with a bazillion planets and only with oxygen. Robots would prefer a low gravity environment (saves energy) or just space itself combined with good solar. No need to lock themselves into a planet at all, and they could harvest all those juicy asteroid minerals.

Or, you know, even ever feel the need to make more robots. You are one, you'll live theoretically forever. You'd probably be better entertained over the millenia by watching generations of humans do silly tricks with their goofy brains than you would be making another thing just like you.

As I recall, the original plan was to using the humans as meat-processors, because we were better at thinking in certain ways than they were. (This would also make how being aware of The Matrix could let one manipulate it, if part of the brain's power was being used to *maintain* the matrix).

... this was nixed by meddling executives as being 'too complicated'.

It may also be worth mentioning that humans were only one source of power for the robots.

Yes. "Combined with a form of fusion." What, nuclear power alone wasn't sufficient? I suppose they never explained it so there could be a few reasons why fusion wouldn't absolutely dwarf the output of even 6 billion plugged-in humans, but it still stretches suspension of disbelief.

In one sense you could argue that animals being several billion years in the evolution, are a means of generating heat (and thus, energy) from carbohydrates. But, that requires that a) food can still be grown after rendering solar power useless, b) that there aren't more effective (read: less energy-efficient) animals than humans which could fulfill the same role without the risk of insurrection. Or maybe the Matrix is a success not because humans were the first, best choice, but because the machines understand human intelligence to a sufficient degree that they could produce a proper simulation that the humans wouldn't reject, whereas an animal intelligence would reject (and require greater maintenance/turnover) more frequently because the machine intelligence understands it no better than we do.

But yeah, nerds.

I skip all that and just scoff at the need for robots to compete with human beings for space or energy in a galaxy with a bazillion planets and only with oxygen. Robots would prefer a low gravity environment (saves energy) or just space itself combined with good solar. No need to lock themselves into a planet at all, and they could harvest all those juicy asteroid minerals.

Or, you know, even ever feel the need to make more robots. You are one, you'll live theoretically forever. You'd probably be better entertained over the millenia by watching generations of humans do silly tricks with their goofy brains than you would be making another thing just like you.